Nepal has blocked access to 26 major social media and communication platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp and LinkedIn, after companies failed to register with the government by a seven-day deadline.
The move follows a Supreme Court directive in a contempt case, which ordered authorities to require both domestic and foreign-origin platforms to formally list with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology before operating in the country, and to ensure mechanisms were in place to monitor unlawful or harmful content.
According to a government notice, the Nepal Telecommunication Authority was instructed to deactivate platforms that did not comply, but said access would be restored immediately if registration is completed. The directive, issued under the “Directive on Regulating the Use of Social Media, 2080,” requires platforms to appoint a local compliance officer and establish systems for handling user complaints.
Among the blocked services are Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, YouTube, X, Reddit, LinkedIn, Discord, Pinterest, Signal, Threads, WeChat and Snapchat. TikTok, Viber, Telegram, Nimbuzz and a few others remain operational after starting the registration process.
Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung said repeated requests to register were ignored, but assured services would be restored once requirements are met.
Rights groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Access Now, condemned the decision as a threat to freedom of expression and media freedom. Civil society groups have also raised concerns over a proposed social media bill in parliament that could impose fines and prison terms for content deemed against “national interest.” (Newswire)